Ten years ago, I faced a life-changing challenge. After surgery to repair my foot, which included three implants to hold the bone structure together, I was told I would recover fully and return to life as usual. But reality had other plans.
Six months in a wheelchair gave me hope that I was on the path to recovery, but when I began walking again, I quickly realized something was wrong. My foot didn’t move as it once did. I had lost my balance and needed to step carefully due to unbearable pain in the nerves and soles.
I was devastated. I had always been active—I loved running, practicing yoga, and simply moving freely. But now, my body wasn’t cooperating, and the life I knew seemed out of reach.
Learning to Adapt
At first, I fought against my new reality. I mourned the activities I could no longer do and felt trapped in a body I didn’t recognize. But as time passed, I realized that fighting what was out of my control wasn’t helping me heal—in fact, it was holding me back.
Instead, I chose to stop focusing on what I had lost and start embracing what I still had.
This shift wasn’t easy, but it was transformative.
I began to:
- Focus on what I could do: I poured my energy into strengthening the rest of my body and finding new ways to move that honored my limitations.
- Treat my left foot with patience and kindness: Rather than demanding it perform like my right foot, I learned to work with it, not against it.
- Rebalance my body and mind: I developed better posture, improved my core strength, and rediscovered my connection to yoga—albeit differently than before.
Gaining More Than I Lost
Once I let go of the idea that my body needed to function as it used to, I unlocked new possibilities. My mindset shifted, and with it, so did my mobility. Today, I’m in the best shape of my life—not because my body is perfect, but because I’ve learned to work with it, to respect it, and to adapt to its needs.
This journey taught me an invaluable lesson: to let go of what was and embrace what is. This perspective hasn’t just helped me physically—it’s shaped how I approach every aspect of my life.
What Do You Need to Let Go Of?
Maybe you’re holding onto an idea of how things *should* be, clinging to the past, or wishing for a different set of circumstances. Let me tell you: letting go isn’t giving up. It’s making room for new possibilities, growth, and the life you can create from where you are now.
Ask yourself: What do I need to let go of to move forward?
With love,
Sandra
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